Scientists and MPs slam cannabis upgrade

A group of eminent scientists and politicians has urged the House of Lords to follow expert scientific advice and reject proposals to reclassify cannabis from class C to class B.

The proposal from the Home Office to upgrade cannabis has reached the House of Lords today, after the government rejected the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) that cannabis should remain a class C drug.

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ACMD advice concluded that efforts to educate people about drugs and to tackle drug dealing should be stepped up, but that there should be no greater criminalisation of possession.

In a letter to the Guardian, the experts warn: 'The impact of parliament agreeing to the government's policy could be very damaging.

'Cannabis use has fallen in recent years, especially following its downgrading to class C in 2004, and it is obviously unwise to risk reversing that trend.'

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The letter also notes that there had been a recent 'welcome trend' of public policy following scientific advice following the Phillips report into the BSE issue.

It claims that a departure from this trend would be 'sad' and calls for the Lords to support an amendment tabled by Baroness Meacher to postpone any reclassification of the drug until a further review has been conducted by the ACMD.

If cannabis were upgraded to Class B, it would join drugs such as speed and barbiturates and those caught in possession could face up to five years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

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